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mawali

mawali

9.9
A person who used to be a slave and is now officially free
  • noun
  • Archaic
translation icon : mawali
  • After years of servitude, he became a mawali and started his own business.

Examples

  • The status of mawali granted certain rights not available to slaves.

  • In early Islamic society, mawali often maintained connections with their former masters.

  • The mawali were often given certain rights after emancipation.

  • Many mawali contributed to the cultural development of their communities.

  • After years of servitude, he became a mawali and started his own business.

  • In early Islamic society, mawali were often respected members who contributed to their communities.

  • The status of a mawali provided them with rights and privileges not granted to slaves.

Synonyms

freedman
vsmawali
3 8.4

A man who was no longer a slave

applies regardless of gender, not limited to men
freedperson
vsmawali
8.4

A person who used to be a slave and no longer is one

is used mainly to refer to those people in historical contexts

Surface Forms

mawali singular
mawalis plural

Etymology

Mawali comes from the Arabic word mawlā, which could mean a 'freedman' or someone under a protector, so a person who was no longer a slave. That's why mawali is used for a freed slave who gained a new legal status and rights.